Astrazeneca reports latest drug developments

Drugs maker Astrazeneca has presented data from its pipeline of cancer treatment studies at the 2014 European Society of Medical Oncology Congress. The FTSE 100 group presented preliminary data from its ongoing phase I study of MEDI4736, which is being tested in combination with a drug called tremelimumab in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who have already received previous cancer treatments. The data covered anti-tumour activity and the tolerability profile of the combination."We are pleased with the results from MEDI4736 in combination with tremelimumab," said Edward Bradley, senior vice president of research and developement at Astra's global biologics research and development arm, Medimmune."While it is still early with a limited data set, the tolerability profile is encouraging. We have also seen some evidence of clinical activity in patients who have failed prior lines of therapy."It explained that data supported its strategy to explore the combination more broadly, adding that the trial would identify the optimal dose to take into its phase III clinical programme. The group also said it had initiated additional phase I immunotherapy combination trials.Medimmune separately announced that it has recently started a phase I monotherapy study in cancer patients with recurrent or metastatic solid tumors."We are encouraged by the results we are seeing and look forward to providing further updates as we continue to work at pace to get these potentially life-changing medicines to patients," Astra said.